New strategy with six goals to solve climate change and biodiversity crises

A NEW strategy is to be launched to inspire residents to play their part in achieving “planet-positive actions”.

Henley Town Council declared a climate emergency in 2020 and joined 300 other authorities in declaring a nature emergency four years later.

Katrina Judge, its biodiversity project officer, has put together a climate and nature community engagement strategy.

While engagement may not be easy, Ms Judge believes it is important and doable.

In a report to the council, Ms Judge said: “Community engagement in the climate and nature sphere is not straightforward, primarily because human behaviour is both the cause of and the solution to our climate change and biodiversity crises.

“The extent to which people engage with the issues depends on many factors, including their psychological filters.

“While being aware of the ‘myths’ surrounding climate change is useful, mentioning and decoding them isn’t believed to be a helpful communication tool, as this can instead embed these considerations as subconscious viable options.”

Ms Judge has outlined six goals: to raise awareness by leading by example and highlighting success; developing capabilities and supporting skills-building; supporting community groups and encouraging participation; enabling a sense of Henley’s “green identity”; growing a “green community” through collaboration and building relationships and trust in what is being done.

For each goal, up to six projects have been created for councillors and organisations to complete by September next year.

Objectives include conducting at least four training sessions with the town council, supporting at least 10 learning projects organised collaboratively with local community groups and supporting at least one climate or nature event and engaging with 30 per cent of the community organisations.

Ms Judge said: “Understanding the definition and shape of our Henley community and what binds us together can help us understand our community priorities and enable us to reach across the width and breadth of our community.

“Particular emphasis also needs to be placed on ensuring ongoing engagement reaches those who are most likely to be affected by climate change.”

At the planning committee meeting, Councillor Michelle Thomas praised the report.

She said: “I think this is an excellent body of work, I think it is going to give the council and the staff and the community an excellent blueprint going forward.”

Cllr Thomas said having a central hub where residents can go to learn information would be helpful.

She said: “If there is anywhere where we could have a stand where somebody could pick up information it would be really helpful.

“The carbon footprint for housing is 20 per cent, so any information to reduce that with solar panels and heat pumps is helpful.”

However, Ms Judge said that the few which have been set up usually fail within a year because of landlord arrangements. The full council approved the strategy on Tuesday last week.